The entry visa is the authorisation granted to non-EU citizens (i.e. those from countries outside the European Union and the Schengen Area) to enter, transit or stay in Italy.
The visa is issued by the Italian Embassies and Consulates in the country of residence of the foreign citizen. The list of Italian Embassies and Consulates can be found on the site of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Citizens of some countries do not require a visa for stays lasting no more than 90 days (every 180 days) in the Schengen area countries, including Italy. The exemption does not apply to entries in Italy for obtaining medical treatment or engaging in a remunerated activity.
For all extended stays of more than 90 days, foreign nationals must always have a visa.
In the case of extended stays of more than three months, and in any case if they hold a type D visa, non-EU foreign nationals must apply for a residence permit within eight working days after arriving in Italy.
Documents required to apply for a student visa
A student visa allows entry into Italy, for the purposes of a long-term but temporary stay, to foreign nationals who – within the quota established by the Decree referred to in Article 39, paragraph 4 of Regulation 286/1998 and subsequent amendments and integrations, and under the conditions set by the provision referred to in Article 46, paragraph 2 of Presidential Decree 394/1999 and subsequent amendments and integrations – intends to participate in university courses.
Applicants with NON-EU citizenship who need to apply for a student visa for enrolling in the following university courses: Bachelor’s Degree courses, Master’s Degree courses, Single-Cycle Master’s Degree courses, First- and Second-Level Postgraduate Degree courses, Foundation courses, PhD courses, Specialisation courses, Advanced courses, Italian Language and Culture courses, Single Courses and Internships, Mobility courses) must submit a pre-registration request on the ministerial portal UniversItaly before applying for the visa.
Applicants for university courses requiring prior admission by the competent Board of the degree course to enrol must also upload the admission letter issued by the relevant course on the UniversItaly portal (for further information on the documentation required for pre-registration in a PhD or Postgraduate degree, please contact the PhD or Postgraduate Degree Office).
They need to register on the UniversItaly portal and then select the University of Pisa, the course of study, the language of the course, the Italian Embassy or Consulate in their country of residence where they will apply for the visa (in the pre-registration application they do not need to indicate their tax code, if they do not already have one and the ID of the chosen university).
The pre-registration application will be evaluated by the University of Pisa and, following its validation, forwarded to the relevant Italian diplomatic mission (Embassy/Consulate) for the visa application.
Once the application is validated, the student will receive a notification from the UniversItaly Portal and will find the Summary in pdf format on their UniversItaly page, at the bottom of it. From the moment the pre-registration application is validated, the candidate can submit the visa application to the competent Embassy by attaching the aforementioned Summary in addition to the documents required for this purpose by the Italian diplomatic mission.
The documents to be produced to obtain a student visa includes:
- entry visa application form
- recent passport-size photograph
- valid travel document with an expiry date that is at least three months after that of the required visa
- availability of appropriate accommodation in Italy
- pre-registration for the course to be attended in Italy (Summary on the Universitaly Portal)
- health insurance, if the foreign national is not entitled to healthcare in Italy under agreements in force with their country
- proof of the availability of means of subsistence in Italy, amounting to at least EUR 448.52 for each month of the academic year. Such availability can be demonstrated by:
- proof of personal or family financial resources
- economic security ensured by Italian institutions and organisations with proven creditworthiness, by local Governments, or by foreign institutions and organisations recognised as reliable by the Italian diplomatic mission.
The requirements and procedures for the issuance of visas are outlined in a specific provision, published annually by the MIUR, in agreement with the MAECI and the Ministry of the Interior.
For all the details on visa issuance in Italy: http://vistoperitalia.esteri.it/home/it
